Construction of marine vessels&#39; hulls



Jan. 12, 1965 F. B. RQMERQ 3,165,083

CONSTRUCTION OF MARINE VESSELS HULLS Filed July 31, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 12, 1965 F. B. ROMERO CONSTRUCTION OF MARINE VESSELS HULLS Filed July 31, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. By 556 Jan. 12, 1965 Filed July 31, 1961 F. B. ROMERO CONSTRUCTION OF MARINE VESSELS HULLS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Jan. 12, 1965 F. B. ROMERO CONSTRUCTION OF MARINE VESSELS nuns,-

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 51, 1961 'Mum United States Patent 3,165,083 CONSTRUCTIGN OF MARINE VESSELS HULLS Frederick Blanchard Romero, 2123 SE. Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, Oreg. Filed July 31, 1961, Ser. No. 131,047 Claims. (Cl. 114-65) A new type of construction of marine vessels hulls herewith described and set forth by the inventor, Frederick Blanchard Romero, a citizen of the United States and former resident of Portland, Oregon.

The invention as herewith set forth, relates to a new method and new type of construction, disclosing an unusually strong type of marine vessels hull, by means of procedures inducing structural strength distribution providing unusually great intra-hulls spaces for the installation of unusually large propulsion powering units in marine vessels to be utilized in oceantransit. This method of construction by proper joining of materials in proper proportionate dimensions, reveals a means by which marine vessels hulls can be so constructed as to be corrosion and leak proof for unusually long periods of time and constructed so as to be provided with unusually great tensile, compressive, and yield strengths, and thereby, suflicient structural strength distribution, to make unnecessary the usually existing intra-hulls numerous longitudinal and transverse bulkheads, decks and stanchions; and thereby, providing inwardly of marine vessels hulls, comparatively greater cargo or machinery spaces enclosed by unusually strong outermost barriers impenetrable by water and floating debris. A further object of this invention is to improve generally thi type of marine vessels hulls construction providing a means for the installation of large propulsion powering units inducing greater power and speed in the maneuvering of said marine vessels built for maneuvering on rough surfaced seas. This type of marine vessels hulls construction is revealed in the several accompanying figures of drawings in which the difierent materials and part are identified by numerals, but not all parts are numbered.

'The invention is revealed in theherewith and following description and in the accompanying drawings which include the following figures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view.

FIG. 3 is a transparent plan view outlining opposite surfaces.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view.

FIG. 6 is a combination perspective and plan view.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing three depths.

The features, revealing novelty of great utility value in marine vessels hulls revealed by the combined elfects of this description and several views, beginning with FIG. 1, a perspective view simultaneously showing a sectional top view, a sectional end view,1and a hulls shell outboard sectional view, are recognizable as presenting a novel type of hulls shell construction wherein exists unusually great tensile, compressive, and yield strengths, by means of the combined efiectiveness of the distribution of structural members strength; without the usually existing intra-hulls' numerous and somewhat closely spaced longitudinal and transverse bulkheads. This novel type of construction provides also, unusually great resistance to leakage of the shell and resistance to corrosion of its metal framing and plating 1, or heavy sheet metal, according to the over-all dimensions chosen for the building of marine vessels of the various sizes between sport models and ships; and as shown by FIG. 1. This method of construction as shown in FIG. 1, is

revealed by the usual method of instrument drawing, shown, and wherein cross-hatching shows the cut edges of the metal plating 1, or heavy sheet metal (in small vessels), and structural members 2, 3, 4, and structural members 5, 6, 7, and 8; these in transverse section in FIG. 1, appear as being T-bars and cross-bars; and in transverse section, functionally similar structural members 23,- 25, in FIG. 4; in FIG. 4, members 24, and 26, creating the appearance in transverse section as being (cross-bars), rather than T-bars. These in extensive hulls formation and construction, being properly curved by the procedure indicated in FIG. 7, then'supported in proper arrangement they are joined by metallic welding; together, with the inclusion of the slotted metal plate 12a, FIG. 6, and as indicated at the regularly spaced intervals 12a and 12b in FIG. 1, establish the beginning of the essential procedure of the steel framing for the new type of construction of marine vessels hulls portions, as indicated by FIGS. 1, 4, 6, and 7. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 7, the metal T-bars or cross-bars (in sectional views) 23, 24, 25, 26, are being placed in pairs in close proximity and parallel, but on opposite surfaces of closed metallic barriers in the extensive metal plating or sheet metal 1, in FIG. 1, and thereat, said pairs are being greatly strengthened in their structural contiguity with one another and with said extensive plating or sheet metal, by having the broad fiat steel joining-bars 9, extending through apertures in the plating or sheet metal 1, and these broad fiat steel joining-bars 9, welded at their edges, all around, in the regularly spaced positions indicated (the propor tionate dimensions shown being usually maintained) in FIGS. 1 and 4; and also, the apertures provided in the plating or sheet metal, for the extension of these perpendicularly extending broad flat steel joining bars 9, are being closed by welding, and thereby making structurally contiguous with one another, the indicated upwardly extending framing members and the said steel plating or sheet steel, utilized. The steel framing members and adjacent steel plating or sheet steel are also being made structurally contiguous by continuously welded joints. These structural members having been properly assembled and welded together are painted with anti-corrosive coatings; then as shown in FIG. 1, are reinforced in their places by the bracing effects of the structural and strength inducing non-metallic bracer illustrated and indicated by 10, 11, 12; these bracers being properly shaped and jointed with mortar. The bracers, in groups of three, are placed and jointed in the frame interspaces, initially in the hulls bottoms, and therefrom, the bracers in groups of three, are placed in their respective frame interspaces, progressively upward to the gunwales. -The mortar used to bond the bracers, in their indicated positions, is made with the inclusion of type three Portland cement and Sorel cement, making a fast setting hard and water-tight mortar, which besides being used to make joints between the bracers is also, used where space exists to pack between the bracers and the adjacent steel plating or sheet steel 1, and the steel T-bar members 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8; and the steel crossbar members 23, 24, and 25, 26, having the relative positions shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4, respectively.

Furthermore, the properly dimensioned to fit, and perstrength and those shown but not numbered, in successive groups of three having been properly placed and bonded between the framing members and adjacent metal plating or sheet metal 1, are further held and reinforced into their positions by the welded into place slotted plates 12a and steel flat-bars 13, 14, 15, etc, as shown in the sectional outboard surface view FIG. 1. These, together with the steel T-bars flanges, obviously lock into place thebracers in groups of three with their joints of mortar and steel plate 12a shown in FIG. 6. Furthermore, as indicated by the outboard perspective view, FIG. 1, hooks 16, made from steel flat-bar material, are rein-forced by welding into the indicated places, the steel brackets 17 and 18; these steel hooks 16, are welded as shown, to the outer surfaces of steel structures indicated by 2, 3, and 4, FIG. 1. These steel hooks 16 being properly positioned on these indicated steel structural members, are placed where necessary to properly hold buoyancy blocks 21. The steel fiat-bar members 13, 14, 15, and like structures when welded into their proper positions as indicated in FIG. 1, are funther joined to one another as shown, by welding .to their outwardly projecting edges, the metal mesh or lathing 19.

The metal lathing 1Q, after having been properly welded into the structural assembly, as shown, is painted with auto-corrosive coating; then, after thorough drying of the anti-corrosive coating, fast setting and water-tight mortar, or concrete, is packed between the lathing 19 and the braced construction behind said lathing 19. Fast setting, hard, and water-tight mortar or concrete is used in sufficient amounts to cover the outer surfaces of the lathing,-and also, to fair the curvature of the marine vessels hulls previously shaped in steps in the proper arrangement, support, and joining of the metallic framing members; then, when and where wanted to provide smoothness of surface on the inside of the hulls, Keenes cement plaster is applied to form a thin coating. When thoroughly dried and hardened, the metal lath held mortar or concrete, on the outermost surfaces of the hull, from the bilge keels horizontalplanes upwardly, are covered by buoyancy blockssimilar to those indicated by 21, 37, 38, 39, 40, and 41, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 8. The buoyancy blocks, on'all except their outermost surfaces are properly mvered with water-proof adhesive material, just before setting them into their places. The outermost surfaces of these buoyancy blocks are being covered by metal plating coated with a marine anti-fouling water repellent reducing to a minimum the frictional resistance occurring between the outboard surfaces of the hull and the water in which the marine vessel is floated. The

'buoyancy blocks as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 8, are

properly curved and are made beveled longitudinally and transversely for the purpose of being interlocked one with another as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and thereby with hooks 16, being securely held in their structural positions, where they provide anti-destructive effects.

The buoyancy blocks shown are being fabricated by use of metal plating 42, forming a bottomless box-like container being nearly filled with rigid plastic foam 43; this rigid plastic foam is being overlaid by heat insulating material 44, which is covered and contacted by the under surface of metal plate 45 welded along its edges to the edges of the bottomless box-like container 42, as shown in FIG. 8.

Inwardly, the hulls shells framing, as indicated by the top transverse sectional surfaws revealed in FIG. 1, is reinforced by first being coated with anti-corrosive paint, then filled in with bracers, such as 11, these being bonded with fast setting Portland type three, and Sorel cements mixed into a mortar to be placed as indicated by 12in FIG. .1. The non-metallic bracers and mortar structure being held firmly in place, not only by the flanges of the cross-bars and adjacent metal'structure, but also, at 12b, by the welded into place, slotted steel plates 12:! shown in FIGS. -1 and 6, and packed mortar making joints between the bracers and the adjacent metal structures where small spaces previously existed. Furthermore, the bracers and their joints are locked into place by steel crossing-bars somewhat similar to 13, 14, 15, in FIG. I, and indicated by 27, and 28, in FIG. 4. And these crossingbars 27, and 28, are being outwardly joined through welding, to steel lathing similar to 19 in FIG. 1; this metal lathing similar to 19 and its welded joints being properly coated with anti-corrosive paint, is then made to hold fast setting watertight mortar packed behind and over it, as shown in the perspective outboard and sectional view, FIG. 1.

FIG. 4, revealing in perspective, a possible inboard view of FIG. 1, in section, shows the proper structural relations between steel members 9, the broad flat joining-bars; the extensive plating or heavy sheet metal 1; members 23, 24, together making the appearance of a cross-bar, in transverse section, likewise members 25, 26; these being welded to by crossing-bars 27, 28, and 29; these being properly jointed by welding with the regularly spaced steel slotted plates 12a, shown in FIGS. 1 and 6; and joined with the bracers bonded with mortar and held in place by cement covered steel lathing similar to 19 shown in FIG. 1, makes possible the building of a marine vessel having an unusual shape with great strength by means of the effectiveness of the fitting structural members strength distribution provided by the proper proportionate dimensions of the said structural members. This strong and new type of construction is being used to make both the hulls shells 31 and the decks 30, indicated in FIG. 5. This new type of strong construction with none or comparatively few bulkheads, when made to form a deck, requires no under-supporting bulkheads or stanchions, because of the bracing effects of the bracers with regularly spaced and perpendicularly positioned reinforcing steel plates 12a and joining-bars 9; these, shown in FIGS. 1 and 6; with structural members 35, and 36, shown in FIG. 5, indicating the requirement of only a properly extensive steel bracketing; and thereby, a comparatively great space is provided for cargo or large propulsion units machinery. Furthermore, in FIG. 5, bilge keels 32, and 33, and also the center keel 34, are being constructed by the methods indicated in FIGS. 1, and 4, without the inclusion of buoyancy blocks.

FIG. 7, is an exploded view showing a method of fabricating curved framing members recognizable as being T-bars and similar framing members; essential to the construction of the type of marine vessels hulls herewith and above set forth. In FIG. 1, the framing member 8, recognizable as being a T-bar, is curved, and in FIG. 7, as shown by members 8 and 8a, the curving of T-bars can easily be established by using and making flat-bar stock cut from plate stock by use of gas torches. The flat-bar stock can be slotted by use of cutting torches, and slotted as shown in FIG. 7, where the slots are separated by small uncut sections 81'), and 8c. The slots can be properly dimensioned so as to admit the edge of similarly curved flat-bars cut to any desired fitting curve, by use of torches, which can also be used to cut properly sized notches admitting the uncut sections illustrated by 8b, and 8c, in FIG. 7. Then by use of proper holding devices the pieces forming the curved T-bar can be properly held perpendicular to one another and welded, all around the approximated edges, and thereby, making a T-bar with the inclusion of any desired curve; necessary in the building of the type of marine vessels.

When due consideration is given, herewith and above, to all that is revealed in the drawings (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8) and the description set forth, it becomes apparent that there is revealed a new method of construction for marine vessels. This method of construction of marine vessels establishes overall structural strength within the outer barriers of the hulls of marine vessels being made in steps of procedure for the inclusion of unusually great structural strength by the combined structural effectiveness of metallic framing properly shaped and arranged, then joined throughout in the steps included in the making of properly made metallic Welded joints, and in the steps included in the dimensioning for close fitting, cutting, placing, and joining non-metallic bracers of great compression strength when properly joined in successive groups of three interlocked by metallic crossing bars; providing bracing effects in the interspaoes of the metallic framing; the metallic framing being by these bracing effects, preserved in its overall and outward formation and immovably sustained therein, with the static forces, equivalent in proportionate effectiveness to that of the usually provided great plurality of transverse and longitudinal bulkheads, and decks, built in ocean-liners for the provision of adequate overall structural strength therein.

The new method of construction for the building of marine vessels, as herewith and above set forth, provides new features of advantage and distinct utility value amounting to a unique improvement; and fulfil-ling the requirements of patentability indicated in 35 U.S.C. 101 102 and 103; therefore, where the scope of this method of construction is being applied to the construction of marine vessels;

I claim:

1. A construction of marine vessel comprising framing members being T-bars and the like jointed by metallic Welded joints with closed metallic barriers extending throughout the hull portions of said marine vessel, said T-bars and the like being arranged in parallel and in pairs closely approximated but on the opposite surfaces of said closed metallic barriers extending throughout said hull portions where they are joined perpendicularly to said barriers through metallic welded joints and perpendicularly with broad fiat metallic joining bars extending through fitting apertures made in said closed barriers, said apertures being completely closed by metallic welded joints with said broad flat joining bars, said broad fiat joining bars being placed in plurality and spaced in regular intervals.

2. A construction of marine vessel, framing members being inclusive of a plurality of regularly spaced slotted and fitted metallic plates at their peripheral edges being joined by metallic welded joints with their adjacent metallic parts relatively perpendicular therewith and in close approximation therewith, said metallic framing members having all their structurally included interspaces filled with previously shaped to fit in groups of three non-metallic bracers, said bracers being of great compression strength and closely fitted in said interspaces, said bracers being joined to one another and adjacent metallic parts with tightly packed mortar inclusive of Sorel cement, said bracers outwardly over their outboard surfaces and in successive groups of three being closely approximated by metallic crossing bars having their opposite ends fixed- 1y joined by metallic welds with flanges of said framing members, said crossing bars and flanges outwardly being covered and joined with metallic lath by metallic welded joints then Sorel cement containing mortar having its exposed surface made to follow closely the outermost curves indicated by the framing formation, then covered with interlocking buoyancy blocks secured by metallic hooks previously welded into proper places on said flanges.

3. A construction of marine vessel hull portions wherein T-bars are arranged at regular intervals in paralleled pairs, said pairs being in close proximity but on the opposite surfaces of extensive closed metallic barriers, said T-bars in pairs being joined to said barriers by metallic welded joints therewith and a plurality of fitting metallic broad flat joining bars regularly spaced and extending between the opposite flanges of said paired T-bars, while extending perpendicularly through said metallic barriers wherein apertures are previously made to fit the cross sections of said joining bars, said apertures being closed by metallic Welded joints with said joining bars.

4. In a construction of marine vessel hull portions, framing members arranged in regular intervals, in paralleled pairs, said pairs being in close proximity but on the opposite surfaces of extensive closed metallic barriers, said paired framing members being joined to the same surfaces of said extensive barriers have extending perpendicularly between them slotted metallic plates spaced in regular intervals, said intervals and interspaces between said framing members being filled with non-metallic bracers in groups of three, said bracers being inclusive of great compressive strength, said bracers being shaped to closely fit said interspaces when joined to one another and adjacent metallic members with Sorel cement contain ing mortar, said hulls on the outboard surfaces having interlocking buoyancy blocks secured thereto by means of metallic hooks at proper intervals welded to the outboard surfaces of said framing members, said buoyancy blocks comprising bottomless metallic boxes nearly filled with rigid plastic foam outwardly overlaid with refractory material outwardly covered with metallic plates fitted and welded to the outermost outboard projecting edges of the beveled sides and ends of said metallic boxes.

5. A method of construction of marine vessels wherein the overall structural strength in the hulls 'of said marine vessels is being established in steps of procedure for the inclusion of unusually great structural strength, said method comprising shaping and arranging metallic framing, and joining said framing by metallic welded joints; dimensioning and cutting for close fitting, then placing and joining non-metallic bracers in the spaces of said framing of great compressive strength when properly joined in successive groups of three, interlocking said bracers and framing by means of metallic crossing bars and thereby providing bracing effects in the interspaces of said metallic framing, said metallic framing being immovably sustained and preserved in its overall formation by said bracers in successive groups of three and said metallic crossing bars providing the static forces equivalent in proportionate effectiveness, to that of the usually provided great plurality of transverse and longitudinal bulkheads, and decks, built in ocean liners for the provision of adequate overall structural strength therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 133,621 Betteley Dec. 3, 1872 796,768 Steinmetz Aug. 8, 1905 906,846 DAdda Dec. 15, 1908 1,066,087 Dingwall July 1, 1913 1,253,293 Sons Jan. 15, 1918 1,258,726 White Mar. 12, 1918 1,274,981 Bride Aug. 6, 1918 1,281,182 Lowther Oct. 8, 1918 1,286,174 Elia Nov. 26, 1918 1,353,880 Widing Sept. 28, 1920 2,371,964 Lee Mar. 20, 1945 

1. A CONSTRUCTION OF MARINE VESSEL COMPRISING FRAMING MEMBERS BEING T-BARS AND THE LIKE JOINTED BY METALLIC WELDED JOINTS WITH CLOSED METALLIC BARRIERS EXTENDING THROUGHOUT THE HULL PORTIONS OF SAID MARINE VESSEL, SAID T-BARS AND THE LIKE BEING ARRANGED IN PARALLEL AND IN PAIRS CLOSELY APPROXIMATED BUT ON THE OPPOSITE SURFACES OF SAID CLOSED METALLIC BARRIERS EXTENDING THROUGHOUT SAID HULL PORTIONS WHERE THEY ARE JOINED PERPENDICULARLY TO SAID BARRIERS THROUGH METALLIC WELDED JOINTS AND PERPENDICULARLY WITH BROAD FLAT METALLIC JOINING BARS EXTENDING THROUGH FITTING APERTURES MADE IN SAID CLOSED BARRIERS, SAID APERTURES BEING COMPLETELY CLOSED BY METALLIC WELDED JOINTS WITH SAID BROD FLAT JOINING BARS, SAID BROAD FLAT JOINING BARS BEING PLACED IN PLURALITY AND SPACED IN REGULAR INTERVALS. 